As the U.S. commemorates National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month, Nuestra.TV, announced today the premiere of its new original children’s animated series MariVi: The Master Navigator, an adaptation from María Twena’s children’s book series under the same moniker. The first episodes are available to watch now on Nuestra.TV, a free video-streaming service that aims to entertain, inform, and empower Hispanic audiences across cultural diversity, generations, languages, and devices.
MariVi: The Master Navigator was executive produced by MariVi & Company, LLC, and animated by Catapult Productions (BrandStar). The title track for the series was produced by Grammy Award-Winning Dan Pinnella and sung by Frankie.
MariVi: The Master Navigator follows U.S. born, MariVi, a bilingual/bicultural primary school girl, and her Spanish-speaking immigrant parents, through life in the U.S. MariVi’s stories address the distinct experiences of bicultural children, including the role of Sherpa that they often play, and their need to find balance and belonging in a world with a different language and culture than that of their parents.
Created by Maria Twena, a second-generation Latina, the MariVi: The Master Navigator series has been an ambitious journey – from infancy to premiere, whose time has come. “U.S.-born Hispanics comprise 67% of the market today, and yet their authentic life experiences aren’t reflected in children’s programming. With MariVi, children of immigrants will find a character that genuinely mirrors their childhoods and honorably echoes their cultural and linguistic duality,” said Twena.
The launch on Nuestra.TV comes as Twena releases her second book of the MariVi: The Master Navigator series titled Weekend Ways, now available on Amazon.
“Nuestra.TV has been committed to supporting education since its inception. The MariVi Master Navigator Series authentically depicts what it’s like to grow up in a first-generation, immigrant household and delivers on our mission of representation. Ensuring that all family members see themselves in the media, as they truly are, is paramount to the empowerment of all Hispanics. I am very excited about the launch of this series.” said Alberto Pardo, president, and CEO of Nuestra.TV.